Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed during a House budget hearing Monday that more than 1,000 Iranian nationals entered the United States illegally during the previous administration.
The disclosure came as Bondi faced questioning from lawmakers about security threats posed by Iranian nationals who crossed into the country during heightened tensions with Iran.
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) pressed the attorney general on whether she knew how many Iranian nationals currently in the United States have been convicted of crimes.
Bondi acknowledged she was uncertain about conviction numbers but confirmed the significant influx during the Biden years.
“And I can tell you, we are on high alert, and everyone is looking at that very closely,” Bondi stated during the hearing.
U.S. Border Patrol arrested 1,504 Iranians at the southern border during President Joe Biden’s term in office, according to a senior Customs and Border Protection source.
Nearly half of those apprehended, totaling 729 individuals, were subsequently released into the United States.
The attorney general’s comments align with recent warnings from the Department of Homeland Security regarding elevated security risks.
DHS issued a notice one day before the hearing stating that the Iran conflict “is causing a heightened threat environment in the United States.”
The department specifically cited concerns about extremists within American borders who might “independently mobilizing to violence” if Iranian leaders issued such calls.
DHS also warned of potential increases in cyberattacks and antisemitic incidents as tensions escalate, Resist the Mainstream reported on Monday.
When Gonzales questioned Bondi about the threat of Iranian “sleeper cells,” the attorney general declined to provide details in the public setting.
“I cannot talk about that in this setting,” Bondi responded to the inquiry about covert operatives.
The exchange occurred during a Department of Justice budget hearing for the upcoming fiscal year, taking place amid rapidly developing Middle East conflicts.
The Trump administration has taken direct military action, conducting airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend.
Iran responded to the American strikes by launching a missile attack on a U.S. military base located near Doha, Qatar, on Monday.
President Trump reported that Iranian officials provided “early notice” of their retaliatory offensive and confirmed no American casualties resulted from the attack.
Later Monday, Trump announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran would begin within hours.
Previous ceasefire deals in the region have collapsed, raising questions about whether this latest agreement will maintain stability.
The Justice Department previously brought criminal charges against three men in connection with an Iran-linked assassination plot targeting Trump before the 2024 election.
Fox News reported that the indictment also included allegations of plans to kill a journalist, with one suspect remaining at large.
The fugitive is described as an Afghan national allegedly receiving payment from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, an Iran-based militant organization.
FBI Director Christopher Wray characterized the charges as evidence of Iran’s persistent efforts to target American citizens and government officials.
“The charges announced today expose Iran’s continued brazen attempts to target U.S. citizens, including President-elect Donald Trump, other government leaders and dissidents who criticize the regime in Tehran,” Wray said when the indictment was announced.
WATCH:
The post ‘High Alert’: Over 1,000 Iranian Nationals Entered US Under Biden, AG Pam Bondi Reveals as Security Threats Mount appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Jordyn M.
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